Do you want to get your CV noticed?
Whenever you’re in pursuit of a new role, especially in tight markets like we currently see it’s essential to have a document that conveys your full experience, competencies and skills in order to be at the top of the pack. Here are some helpful tips for ensuring your CV will assist you in getting that job – at the end of the day, it’s like a marketing brochure!
- Always include contact details – some jobs are filled overnight so don’t miss out on that dream role just because you’ve accidentally left your number and/or email out.
- I see CV’s every day. What I don’t see is people using a professional font like Calibri or Arial. This is always number one or two for making you’re CV look ‘the part’. However, if it looks the part but many words are misspelt then this is equally as bad. Proof reading AND spell checking is vital.
- Personal preferences aside hiring managers will always prefer concise CVs with clear punchy sentences. Why not utilise bullet points rather than paragraph upon paragraph of experiences and skills. Remember you’re looking for a job not a publisher for your autobiography.
- K.I.S.S – As well as being a great rock band in the 80’s and also a romantic gesture – K.I.S.S in this instance stands for Keep it Short and Simple. Communication on site and in any office is of ultimate importance – don’t try and sell yourself by writing everything you did in a role or being too technical- use the interview to convey the greater detail of your technical skills and experience. Use your CV to bait the hiring manager into wanting to interview you. This can be done by using short, sharp and accurate details of your work experience and skills, for example if you were a Metallurgist on a lead-zinc operation which underwent an expansion, a simple bullet point of two to highlight your involvement in the project, the plant used and any key achievements would suffice.
- Chronologically set out your school/university/working life from most recent to earliest. In mining what you did most recently will mean more to them than what you did 15 years ago as a graduate.
- I always follow the guidelines of careers up to 7 years; 2 pages is sufficient, 7-10 years; 3 pages and 10+ years; 4 pages – don’t take this as gospel but it’s a good template for ease of reading and keeping the reader’s attention.
- For mining roles when discussing past work always include; The DATES you worked there, the COMPANY name, the SITE/LOCATION, the POSITION and then 3-4 key points about your experiences and skills learned. If you did use certain software packages then include that too.
- Try and utilise key words in each bullet point at the beginning. I’m talking about words that every hiring manager likes to see. Examples are; increased, reduced, improved, accelerated, produced, budgeted, launched, identified, eliminated, led and managed
- And finally, customise your CV as required… No two jobs will be the same and in markets like mining where the market can take effect overnight you’ll never know when you may have to step up or step back. Keeping two CVs up to date for two positions you have experience do will advantageous as it allows you to be agile and flexible in difficult and booming markets.
See a sample CV by visiting www.rockpeople.com/sampleCV.pdf
Most importantly, if you’re unsure if your CV is up to scratch, never hesitate to ask Hiring Managers or Recruiters for feedback on its effectiveness.
Happy Hunting!
Jon Taylor – Processing & Project Delivery Recruitment Specialist